IOC revokes India’s rights to host any Olympic qualifying events

• The International Olympic Committee has revoked India’s rights to act as a host country in any olympic event.
  
• The decision came after India denied to issue visa to two Pakistani athletes who were to participate in a World Cup shooting event.
  
• India’s actions go against the Olympic charter, the committee said.

The International Olympic Committee has revoked India’s rights to host Olympic-related events following the country denying visas to Pakistani athletes in the wake of Pulwama terror attack.

The Committee has also reportedly asked all Indian sporting federations to bar India from hosting events unless the Indian government provides “clear written guarantees” to allow athletes to the events.

"Since becoming aware of the issue, and in spite of intense last-minute efforts and discussions with the Indian government authorities, no solution has been found to allow the Pakistani delegation to enter India in time to compete," IOC said in a statement.

India denied issuing visas to two Pakistani shooters who were supposed to participate in a World Cup event in New Delhi on February 23 following Pulwama terror attack.

According to IOC, refusing visas is a violation of the fundamental principles of the Olympic charter and ‘non discrimination.’

The Pulwama attack claimed the lives of at least 45 CRPF soldiers in what is one of the deadliest attacks in the Kashmir valley in the last two decades.

With IANS